Symptoms of Heroin Abuse

The symptoms of heroin abuse vary depending on how long the individual has been using, how much they have been using, and how often the use. Early symptoms are similar to other depressants, such as drowsiness, loss of coordination, decreased breathing and heart rate, and slurred or slow speech. The longer a person has been dependant on heroin, the more intense the cravings become, and more heroin is required to create the desired effect.

A trademark of long time heroin abusers is the presence of “track marks” along veins. These scars are damaged tissue, a result of shooting heroin directly into the bloodstream with a syringe. Some heroin addicts will inject the drug in a covered area of the body to hide their addiction from family, friends, and coworkers. Long term heroin addicts also experience more severe symptoms, ranging from collapsed veins at injection sites to liver disease or pulmonary disorders. Heroin users who inject the drug also run the risk of contracting diseases (such as HIV or hepatitis) from using shared needles.

Heroin Withdrawal

After repeated use, the body develops heroin dependency and must have heroin in order to function. If an addict suddenly stops using heroin, the body has a violent reaction which often leads the user to take heroin again as a release from the pain of withdrawal. The most violent withdrawals last up to seven days or more, but the craving for heroin does not immediately decrease. Violent and sometimes fatal withdrawals are one of the reasons that seeking professional treatment is highly encouraged for people seeking to overcome an addiction to heroin.

Heroin Addiction Treatment Options

A heroin abuser has many options when seeking treatment for his/her addiction. These treatments can be short or long term, residential (inpatient) or outpatient, individual or group, luxurious or functional. Longer treatment programs tend to have higher success rates, but finding support after heroin addiction treatment is also very important.

Sometimes family and friends may decide to stage an intervention, attempting to persuade the heroin addict to admit to his/her addiction and seek treatment for that addiction. This intervention sometimes leads to the addict entering a treatment program, but other times the heroin abuser may not attempt treatment because they do not want to admit to having a problem, either out of shame or simple denial.

Heroin Addiction Help

Suffering from heroin addiction or watching a loved one suffer from heroin addiction is painful. You are not alone. We want to help you overcome your addiction and regain control of your life. We are available 24 hours a day and our number is toll free, so call us today.

• Holistic Drug Rehab. This type of program uses yoga, nutritional counseling, meditation, and exercise classes as ways to help an individual overcome their addiction.
• Drug Rehab Family Counseling. This type of program attempts to confront possible family issues that may have caused an individual to use.
• Twelve Step Programs. This type of program usually focuses on conquering all addictions for an individual. It requires an individual to address their past, learn from it, fix the situation, and also to stay centered on the present.
• Group Addiction Counseling. Group counseling is a useful way to combat addiction. An individual can hear other addicts’ struggles and be able to give and receive support from other members of the group. The feeling of being alone is one of the most dangerous feelings for a recovering addict to have.
• Individual Counseling. Especially when going through a difficult time, a person will often yearn for someone to talk to. It is important for a recovering addict to have someone they can trust and confide in who will help them understand their addiction and offer advice.
• Dual Diagnosis Treatment. This type of program focuses on the psychological aspect of heroin addiction. It helps users realize if they’re using because of a struggle with depression or other such problems and how they can deal with these issues.
• Sober Homes. This type of program helps an individual slowly make their way back into everyday life. It is difficult for an individual to immediately be thrust back into their normal pre-addiction routine. This slower method helps an individual make this important transition.

When choosing a rehab program, an individual should consider their situation. If their home life is bad, they may want to consider a live-in heroin rehab center where they can stay during the duration of their rehabilitation. If an individual is more comfortable with the help of friends and family, an outpatient heroin rehab program might be the choice for them. There are programs specified to things like gender or age so that an individual can be as comfortable as possible during the rehabilitation process.

Life after Heroin Rehab

Heroin is a drug that is almost impossible for one person to break away from on their own. Individuals need support to beat their addiction. Rehabilitation programs can’t solve the problem if an individual doesn’t have a strong supporting cast of friends and family around them. This is arguably the most important factor to keeping an individual away from the drug that hurts so many people. Having an accountability partner, perhaps a friend or family member, can help a former addict stay on the right path. The friends and family of these individuals are responsible for trying their best to help these people stay away from their former addictions.

Even if friends or family turn out to be bad influences more than good ones, there is still help available. Sponsors, support groups and counselors can enable a former addict to complete recovery even if their primary support system fails. Recovery support is a necessary part of overcoming heroin addiction.

Heroin Recovery Help

Do you have a problem with heroin addiction? Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to help you find the right treatment option. Please call our toll free number now to learn more. Life is too short to waste on addiction—call us today.

Heroin Addiction Facts

• Every time a person takes heroin, that person runs the risk of death. Because heroin varies in color and texture so often, there is no way to tell how pure or strong any given dose of heroin is.
• Some people mistakenly believe that only heroin injections cause addiction. Taking heroin in any form can cause immediate addiction.
• Heroin becomes less effective the longer a person takes it, causing individuals take larger and larger doses in order to feel satisfied.
• Over time, heroin stops producing the feelings of pleasure a user initially experienced. The user will simply be severely addicted and still not feel any of the formerly pleasurable sensations heroin once brought.

Side Effects of Heroin

Side effects of heroin can be life-threatening and may include:

• Difficulty breathing, sometimes to the point of death
• Digestive issues such as constipation, vomiting and nausea
• Dulled emotions, slow response, decreased mental function
• Memory and cognition problems, personality changes
• Liver disease, internal abscesses and infection of the heart

For families and loved ones, the effects of a heroin addiction can be devastating. Watching a loved one lose interest, become hostile or apathetic, and exhibit strange behavior can be challenging for any family. Because heroin addiction can progress quickly, many individuals do not realize they have a problem. When heroin addicts are confronted about their addiction, they may become angry, deny the addiction, or worse. For this reason, many families opt to stage an intervention for their loved one.

How to Have a Heroin Intervention

A heroin intervention is a carefully planned gathering of friends and family. The group confronts the addicted individual who is in denial. The purpose of an intervention is to show the addicted person that he or she is loved and cared for, but that the consequences of heroin abuse use have taken their toll on the addict as well as loved ones and it is time to accept treatment.

Because interventions can be highly emotional process, many people choose to hire a professional interventionist to assist in the planning, gathering and emotional strain of an intervention. A good interventionist can also help you find the best treatment for your loved one.

Whether you choose to hire an interventionist or not, the following are some tips you can use to set up an intervention:

• Research and Investigate Your Options: Read about interventions, decide whether or not to hire an interventionist.
• Make an Action Plan: Work out all of the details and form a solid plan for the intervention from beginning to end.
• Pre-Intervention Meeting: Meet with key loved ones who would be influential in persuading the heroin addict to change. Plan out the actual intervention with them, step-by-step. It is best not to include children in interventions unless approved by a child psychologist. Do not let the addicted person know that you will be having an intervention.
• Intervention Meeting: This is a loving but firm meeting in which the close friends and family come together to confront the addict person, share issues surrounding the heroin abuse and addiction, and encourage the person to receive treatment. The goal is to have the addicted individual leave to attend treatment as soon as possible, before the person can change his or her mind.
• Treatment: If your loved one accepts treatment, it is very important to have treatment lined up beforehand. The addicted person will need to go to treatment immediately. A good interventionist can set this up beforehand or you may be able to do it yourself.
• Post Intervention Care: This includes ongoing care for the addicted person and services for the family as well.

Heroin Intervention Help

If you would like to learn more about the intervention process, including tips on how to find a reputable interventionist, please call our toll free 24-hour helpline at (866) 872-6491. We have trained experienced counselors on hand to answer any questions you may have about heroin addiction, treatment, and intervention. Heroin addiction can become deadly at any moment—call today.

A life dedicated to getting high and getting heroin does not leave room for much anything else. Most all of an addict’s time and energy are consumed by their focus on these two goals. Thankfully, addicts can get help that lasts.

Treatment and Cost Options for Heroin Addiction

Heroin addiction treatment works. It doesn’t always have to be terribly expensive, but it is up to the patient to choose which treatment center is right for their budget. However, addiction treatment in and of itself saves the addict for their costly addiction. So, paying a little more for the treatment center that you know is right for you is often worth the extra cash. It’s hard to put a price tag on freeing yourself of a life-jeopardizing addiction. Addiction treatment that really works involves assisted medical detox followed by inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found in 2002 that the average cost of treatment for outpatient care facilities was $1,433 per course of treatment. In addition, the “Alcohol and Drug Services Study Cost Study” found that residential drug abuse treatment to cost the patient $3,840 per admission. Though these costs seem high, a report published in 2009 by the Open Society Institute suggests that it is often less costly to treat addiction than to live with it because of the adverse, negative health effects it has.

Heroin Treatment

Costs for heroin detox depend on the treatment center. Paying to fix the problem now is a lot less costly than paying to fix the problem and it’s adverse effects as well. If you are battling a heroin addiction please call our toll free number at (866) 872-6491. We can help you find a treatment center that is right for you and your budget.

How much do you spend on your addiction now? How many job opportunities have you missed because of your addiction? All of these issues will no longer be a problem once you have beaten your addiction.

Insurance Coverage of Cost

Some insurance companies cover the cost of heroin rehabilitation. Check with your insurance agent to find out if you apply for any coverage. Some coverage includes detox, outpatient programs, medications and/or inpatient programs for a certain amount of time.

Heroin treatment centers vary in price.

General Costs

It depends on which rehab facility you choose as to what the specific prices are. It may be quite expensive but worth it when you consider all you will be gaining. These are some approximate costs:

For a heroin outpatient drug program, the cost may be anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000. This is a large price range. It depends on several different factors:

• Length of program
• Area- major cities have a tendency to cost more (Los Angeles, New York)
• Number of extra services included in the plan.

Obviously, heroin inpatient programs are going to run a good deal more expensive than outpatient. It may run anywhere from $7,500 to $35,000. These programs take into consideration:

• Staff
• Meals
• Activities

Although it is a good deal more expensive, it offers a better chance for successfully completing the treatment program and living a drug-free lifestyle. Inpatient programs provide 24-hour care.

It is important to look into all of this information and decide what is best for your life and finances. Although beating your addiction is invaluable, it is important to know what you are getting into when you sign up for a treatment plan.

Heroin Addiction Help

If you or a loved one is interested in signing up for a heroin treatment program and have any question or concerns, please call our toll free number today at (866) 872-6491. Help is just around the corner.